No internet? No problem. Teens lead tech training for their teachers
Hot Springs, Ark. (February 9, 2026) – Despite an unexpected internet outage, a group of teens from Lakeside High School recently held technology trainings for their school faculty thanks to Connected Nation’s (CN) Teens Teach Tech, powered by AT&T, program.
In December, this group of resourceful teens from the Lakeside FBLA chapter in Hot Springs, Ark., taught technology skills to 201 teachers and staff. They taught not one, not two, but three different training topics, including how to stay safe online, use email properly, and stop phishing attacks. The students worked hard to prepare for the event, laminating and cutting handouts, and practicing their script.
However, when the teens and their team mentor arrived at the school on the day of the event, they realized there was a school-wide internet outage.
“Unfortunately, our internet was down when we got to school,” said Team Mentor Angie Hutson. “Seeing our students monitor and adjust with no internet was great. They were very glad that I had reminded them to have the presentation downloaded!”
The teens thought on their feet and pivoted from their original plan. They started by using a hotspot to connect to the wireless board, but the connection kept dropping. One of the students, McKinley, suggested they find an HDMI cord to connect to the system directly. Thanks to her suggestion, they were then able to share the presentation screen.
The teens set up the presentation, greeted the faculty, practiced using the clicker and lanyard microphone, and added transitions for the change of speakers into the script. Finally, they were all prepared and ready to go.
First, they taught computer basics specifically for Windows devices. They focused on teaching foundational computer skills to help attendees feel more confident. The teens demonstrated how to install updates properly, explained why regular updates are essential to stay secure, and answered questions about maintaining the devices. They also emphasized the importance of strong passwords and never walking away from the computer without locking it.
The next topic was email basics, which centered on safe email practices like recognizing phishing attempts, spotting signs of social engineering, and avoiding common traps used to steal personal information. The teens discussed practical strategies for staying safe and the value of strong passwords as an added layer of protection.
The final topic was internet safety, where the students introduced key concepts of cybersecurity. They showed participants how to determine whether a website is secure, spot red flags online, and avoid malvertising. The teens demonstrated how to perform a Google security check and how to turn on two-step verification. Participants were also provided a handout on internet safety.
The event was a huge success, and the feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive. And of course, by the end of the presentation, the school internet finally came back up.
The students were very prepared and professional, even without internet. They all knew their topics well and were able to engage with the audience without using notes. With donuts for everyone and free gift-card drawings, the presentations were both fun and valuable for the teens and attendees.
"It was extremely beneficial to present in front of teachers we see every day,” said one teen. “It was interesting to see them in a different light and have us teaching them instead of them teaching us!”
Not only did the students learn new information from the presentation and gain confidence speaking in front of crowds, they also earned funds from CN for hosting their training, which will be used to pay for registrations at competitive FBLA events.
The adult participants gained a lot from the event, too. The school librarian shared that “this was the best professional development event the school has ever had.” A teacher mentioned that “the students were outstanding, and that everyone needs to hear that presentation.” Several participants asked if more training was on the horizon.
If you’re interested in starting a Teens Teach Tech, powered by AT&T, team in your community, click here to register!